Old Tracers

[Old Jeff H]

I did an internet search on this, but came up pretty much emptyhanded...

Several years ago I bought 1,000 or so pulled (assuming the were originally 30-06) tracers that I've been storing in an ammo can in my garage. I forget now what I was looking for, but I recently opened up the can and noticed they have a pretty strong odor. (Could be that they've always smelled that way, but honestly can't remember?) I didn't see anything that looked visibly concerning though.

Anyone think there's a danger of old tracer bullets decaying and possibly spontaneously combusting?

 

[Flash]

Tracers are hygroscopic and from what I've read they can go bad, but only in the sense that they won't ignite.

Never heard of one of them spontaneously combusting.

 

[Old Jeff H]

Never heard of one of them spontaneously combusting.

Thanks, Larry. That's good news. Worse comes to worst, they'll make some cheap 300 BO ammo. I'd just have to find a place that's actually safe to shoot 'em!

 

[Brlux]

I think if spontaneous combustion was an option that would be well documented in the ammo cashes storing these bullets.

 

[Old Jeff H]

I think if spontaneous combustion was an option that would be well documented in the ammo cashes storing these bullets.

No way, man. The government keeps everything a secret.

 

[Doc]

[mention]Old Jeff H[/mention] check this out.
It’s an SDS seems to be stable at “normal temperatures and pressures”
https://winchesterle.com/-/media/Project/WinchesterLE/PDF/MSDS/msds_w58.ashx

 

[Old Jeff H]

@Old Jeff H check this out.
It’s an SDS seems to be stable at “normal temperatures and pressures”
https://winchesterle.com/-/media/Project/WinchesterLE/PDF/MSDS/msds_w58.ashx

Thank you.